Project director John Stubbs dismissed fears over the main integrated deck, saying Shell has known for about a year that modifications had pushed the structure beyond the maximum design weight for lifting offshore. Facilities were beefed up following the latest explosion overpressure research. He said: The maximum lift weight on the crane barge Thialf is about 12,000 tonnes, but they have said that because of the conditions in March (when the main topsides lift is planned) the maximum is 11,100 tonnes.